"Today I Learnt"

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Captain

TIL That during the WW2 the British government brought up the surplus tea from every nation except Japan, making it the second largest purchase (by weight) after bullets. Then artillery shells, bombs and explosives. They thought there would be significant damage to the countries morale if it ran out.

Just your average every day Alien!

TIL there is no limit to how much I can eat at KBBQ. Not to say that there isn't a limit to how much I may TAKE from the buffet, but that my stomach is a black hole, devouring all forms of Wagyu beef and spicy teriyaki pork that dares approach.

Captain

TIL That the USS O'Bannon sank a Japanese submarine after pelting it with potatoes. History is a strange thing.

The potatoes were just thrown at the sub as the ship had drew alongside it and were too close to fire their guns. The Japanese in the dim light of dawn mistook the potatoes for grenades, causing them to scramble to clear the deck, giving the USS O'Bannon time to open up the distance and fire upon the sub. Also I cannot verify how true the story is, there was a plaque dedicated to it that got stolen so..

Captain

TIL there were two Winston Churchills (one American, one British). What makes it more interesting is the coincidental parallels their lives had. They both gained their tertiary education at service colleges and briefly served (during the same period) as officers in their respective countries' armed forces (one was a naval, the other an army officer). Both Churchills were keen amateur painters, as well as writers. Both were also politicians, although here the comparison is far more tenuous, the British Churchill's political career being far more illustrious.

The great bit is due to the pair having their first books published at similar times (and the american Churchill being the better known at the time) Churchill sent Churchill this letter:

Churchill's letter to the other Winston Churchill said:

London, June 7, 1899.

Mr. Winston Churchill presents his compliments to Mr. Winston Churchill, and begs to draw his attention to a matter which concerns them both. He has learnt from the Press notices that Mr. Winston Churchill proposes to bring out another novel, entitled Richard Carvel, which is certain to have a considerable sale both in England and America. Mr. Winston Churchill is also the author of a novel now being published in serial form in Macmillan's Magazine, and for which he anticipates some sale both in England and America. He also proposes to publish on the 1st of October another military chronicle on the Soudan War. He has no doubt that Mr. Winston Churchill will recognise from this letter -- if indeed by no other means -- that there is grave danger of his works being mistaken for those of Mr. Winston Churchill. He feels sure that Mr. Wiston Churchill desires this as little as he does himself. In future to avoid mistakes as far as possible, Mr. Winston Churchill has decided to sign all published articles, stories, or other works, 'Winston Spencer Churchill,' and not 'Winston Churchill' as formerly. He trusts that this arrangement will commend itself to Mr. Winston Churchill, and he ventures to suggest, with a view to preventing further confusion which may arise out of this extraordinary coincidence, that both Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Winston Churchill should insert a short note in their respective publications explaining to the public which are the works of Mr. Winston Churchill and which those of Mr. Winston Churchill. The text of this note might form a subject for future discussion if Mr. Winston Churchill agrees with Mr. Winston Churchill's proposition. He takes this occasion of complimenting Mr. Winston Churchill upon the style and success of his works, which are always brought to his notice whether in magazine or book form, and he trusts that Mr. Winston Churchill has derived equal pleasure from any work of his that may have attracted his attention.